'ELECTROLYSIS OF ALIPHATIC COMPOUNDS.

87

a
a
1

Acetaldehyde is formed as the oxidation product of the latter.

Sodium a-Dichlorpropionate behaves analogously to sodium
trichloracetate (Troeger and Ewers*). There is formed,
besides carbonic acid and oxygen, the crystalline a-dichlor-
propionic a-dichlorethyl ester:

2CH3CCI2COO = CH3CC12COOCC12CH3+C02.

Sodium fl-iodopropionate, according to the last-named
investigators, yields a little iodoform besides iodine; the gases
formed are principally carbonic acid. Carbon monoxide and
oxygen occur only in small quantity.

Butyric Acids.

Butyric Acids.—The two butyric acids -were eiectrolyzed
by Bunge.2 With isobutyrie acid it was not possible to obtain
hexane, but the normal acid yielded some butane besides larger
quantities of propylene.

Careful and reliable investigations on the electrolysis of
the potassium salts of butyric and isobutyric acids have been
published by M. P. Hamonet.3 His apparatus consisted of a
copper beaker 23 cm. high and 8 cm. in diameter, which served
as the cathode. A porous earthenware cell, which contained
the anode and was closed with a three-hole stopper, stood in the
beaker. The perforations in the stopper held a thermometer,
a gas-delivery tube, and the electric conductor leading to the
anode. The anode used in some experiments ivas a platinum
wire 1 mm. in diameter and 2 m. in length; in others a platinum
cylinder 14 cm. high and 2.5 cm. in diameter. This variation
of current density was, however, of second&ry importance.
Solutions of the potassium salts having a specific gravity of
1.08-1.19 were used as the electrolyte. Current strengths of
4-5 amp. were reached with a difference of potential at the
poles of 6-9 volts. The electrolysis was continued 2-3 hours,

>f

1 Journ. f. prakt. Chem. 58,121 (1893).
2 Journ. f. russ. pliys. Gesellsch. 21, 525 (1889).
3Coinp. rend. 125,252 (1895).